PORTLAND – Devin Booker enjoyed his birthday Friday but being 19 does not change his status as the NBA's youngest player.

“It’s unbelievable,” Booker said. “I’ve always been the younger guy. You can get away with it in high school and college, but now I’m a professional. It’s not a three-year age gap. It’s a 10- or 15-year age gap. If I wasn’t ready for it, I wouldn’t have declared for it. I’m here now so I feel like I’m a part of it.”

Booker showed that in his NBA debut on Wednesday, becoming the first NBA 18-year-old to score in double digits (14) since Amir Johnson 10 seasons ago.

If all goes as well, Booker could wind up in the NBA for nearly as long as he has been alive thus far. That is why assistant coach Earl Watson, who is integrated into Suns player development coordinator Nate Bjorkgren's program, said this juncture of Booker's career is essential to establish his work ethic, routine and physical and mental preparation.

It does not take any twisting of Booker's smooth-shooting arm. He regularly stays after practices to work with Watson and player development assistant Jason Fraser.

“I’ve always been like that,” Booker said. “It’s just second nature to me. I guess just being around basketball my whole life, being around a father (Melvin) that had a chance to play professional. He just taught me what it took to be a long-time pro. Now it just happens for me. I have nothing else to do anyways.”

Because he is the age of a college sophomore, Booker chose to live off Tempe Town Lake near Arizona State to be close to people in his age group.

“(My teammates) are out in Paradise Valley,” Booker said. “They have third deals and second deals, so they can live out there.”

Booker is striving for that NBA longevity. He knows that he might not play each game but is prepared for the extremes of important time in a game or sitting for a week.

“He’s a smart player,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. “He knows that when his time comes, he’s going to be ready to go and take advantage of it. I think he’s going to be a great player.”

As the Suns’ third point guard and an 11-year veteran, Ronnie Price knows his playing time could come anytime and anyhow. On Friday night, his first court action was the first half’s last two minutes, an unusual game debut for a bench player.

There is nothing about the way Price operates that would leave him unprepared for the moment.

“I want to keep up with the energy and the tone that was already set,” Price said. “That’s my job. My job is to keep the pace. If a pace hasn’t been set, raise the pace. I take pride in that.”

In Phoenix’s first two games, the Suns outscored opponents by 14 in Price’s 22 minutes on the floor. He will push tempo with his dribble but mostly as a defensive irritant with ball pressure.

“That’s Ronnie,” Hornacek said. “He’s full-bore all the time. He’s going to be our guy to help put pressure on some guys. I thought Eric and Brandon did a nice job defensively on their guys. When you can put a third guy out there and make these guys work, at some point, you’re hoping they’re going to get tired.”

Hornacek compared power forward Jon Leuer to his former Suns teammate, Kurt Rambis: “Maybe some stuff doesn’t show up in the stat line but he’s always in the right spot. Defensively, you don’t have a lot of breakdowns when he’s out there. Most of the time, you can be a good defender if you’re just a good team defender and you’re in the right spot.”

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Former Phoenix Suns 2-time NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns 2-time NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash hugs Al McCoy as he was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns 2-time NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash thanks the fans as he was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash waves to the fans during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Walter Davis hugs Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash waves to the fans during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash waves to the fans during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash looks at his new banner during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash waves to the fans during his induction ceremonies into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash receives high-fives from the fans following his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash was inducted into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash salutes Charles Barkley during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports

Former Phoenix Suns NBA All-Star point guard Steve Nash is hugged by Charles Barkley during his induction ceremony into the Suns Ring of Honor at halftime on Oct. 30, 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz. Nash becomes the 14th member of the Suns Ring of Honor at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports